Tag Archives: silly

He's not out of the woods yet! McIlroy fails to hit top form but posts solid start in Texas in his final preparation ahead of The Masters

, including a
second major at the US PGA Championship.

Lost ball: Rory McIlroy, looking in the woods for a wayward shot, has had just one top-10 finish in 2013

Back in form McIlroy hits his second shot on the 14th in the first round of the Valero Texas Open today

But with caddie JP Fitzgerald advising him that he needed more competitive rounds under his belt, McIlroy travelled to San Antonio and carded an opening level-par 72 to lie five shots behind Matt Bettencourt, who carded a 67 to overtake long-time clubhouse leaders Padraig Harrington and Billy Horschel.

Starting from the 10th on the difficult Oaks Course – the fourth most difficult on the PGA Tour last year – McIlroy opened with four pars before picking up a birdie on the par-five 14th and another on the short par-four 17th.

However, a bogey on the 18th after finding the water was the first of three in succession which dropped him back to one over par, not what the world No 2 was looking for after speaking of the need to cut out 'silly mistakes' in his rounds.

The 23-year-old stopped the rot with pars at the third and fourth and then birdied the next two holes after pitching to five feet each time, but carded his fourth bogey of the day on the ninth.

Comeback: McIlroy, chipping onto the 18th green, took part in the Texas Open in a bid to reverse his poor form

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The PGA Tour is back in San Antonio this week for the Texas Open, where Rory McIlroy will be hoping to fine-tune his game ahead of the Masters.

Ben Curtis took the title last year and you can keep track of all the latest scores right here.

Three-time major winner Harrington had
also bogeyed his final hole, the 18th; the only blemish on his card
caused by three putts from 35ft.

The 41-year-old won the Open Championship in 2007, successfully defended
it the following year and then won the US PGA Championship a few weeks
later, but has not tasted victory on one of the major tours since – his
last win came on the Asian Tour in 2010.

Harrington admitted he had enjoyed his fair share of good luck in cold
and blustery conditions, with his only bogey caused by three-putting the
18th.

'It was cold and that really does affect the ball,' the Dubliner told
reporters. 'I didn't have a great ball-striking round but my misses were
either in the right places or I got slightly fortunate and then got up
and down.

'I'm not walking away from this round thinking “wow, I hit a number of
pure golf shots”, or anything like that. It was more mental fortitude
than ball striking.

Right alongside: McIlroy's playing partner, 19-year-old Jordan Spieth, went round in one under par

'This morning, early on, it was a battle of survival. Last week back in
Ireland it was snowing and I didn't feel this cold. There was a feeling
of “let's just hang in there and stay in the tournament”. Sometimes that
lets you play a little bit more within yourself.'

Anyone winning this week will have to defy the odds if they want to also claim a Green Jacket at the Masters, however.

Only two players have won the week prior to the Masters and then gone on
to win in Augusta; Sandy Lyle in the Greater Greensboro Open in 1988
and Phil Mickelson in the BellSouth Classic in 2006.

Getting to grips: McIlroy, teeing off at the second hole today, needed to get used to his new Nike equipment

Are professional golfers wildly overpaid As we enter the silly season of lavish appearance fees and guaranteed prize money, a period that has seen Justin Rose make 2million already, it would be easy to succumb to the idea.

But judging any profession by the lucky few who make it to the summit is always a skewed notion.

For a better perspective, look at the man currently holding down 115th place in the Race to Dubai. In other words, the final spot to ensure playing privileges for next year.

Sealed with a kiss: Justin Rose won a small fortune in Turkey last week

Jamie Elson was a direct contemporary of some of the high rollers in the UK game. He played in the same winning Walker Cup team as Graeme McDowell and Luke Donald and turned pro with the same dreams. Five years later, he was selling coffee machines and distributing leaflets in supermarkets.

More from Derek Lawrenson…

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08/10/12

Derek Lawrenson: Why we should be saying Yanks for the memories to gracious losers
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Derek Lawrenson: McIlroy a victim of trash talk in American press ahead of Ryder Cup
24/09/12

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Derek Lawrenson: Garcia's sprint for the line earns place in Jose's Ryder Cup plans
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Now he is back on the ladder, plying his trade on the second best tour in world golf. Over the past three years he has made around 430,000, which sounds great until you strip out 100,000 for hotels, caddie fees and the like.

Still, excellent money in the real world, of course, and certainly a better rate than selling coffee machines. But not wildly overpaid.

So that’s what you earn if you are the 115th best player in Europe.

Below Elson are all the wannabes on the Challenge Tour who are good enough to routinely shoot scores in the 60s and yet struggle to pay the mortgage. And below them are thousands more playing for their own money each week in small-scale pro events knowing they need to finish in the top six or so to make any dosh at all.

Yes, make it into the world’s top 50 and you can have a holiday home in an exotic location and your pick of the best luxury motors.

Make it into the top 10 and you are earning absolute fortunes.

But there are a lot of really good pro golfers out there who are not overpaid, never mind wildly so.

Christian facing the cut

Is our favourite former knife salesman about to suffer the cruellest cut of all This time last year we were bringing to your attention the heartwarming story of Englishman Gary Christian, who once did that job — among others — to make ends meet and who had battled on to make it to the most glamorous circuit in world golf for the first time at the age of 40.

So, how has he fared in his rookie year on the US Tour Well, there have certainly been plenty of highlights, as anyone following his entertaining Twitter account can testify.

There has been a top-10 finish and he played so well in the first two rounds of the opening FedEx Cup event he got to partner Tiger Woods.

But, the bottom line is that a missed halfway cut last week has left Christian in 127th place in the money list, with two events remaining — and only the top 125 keep their cards for next year.

What is known, in sporting parlance, as squeaky-bum time.

Cambo back in the swing of things

I must admit, there have been times over the past nine years when I’ve bumped into Michael Campbell in clubhouses, hotel elevators and the like, and really not known what to say.

Befitting his status as one of the game’s gentlemen, he’d always warmly say hello. But, after the opening pleasantries, how do you have a conversation with a man who went from beating Tiger Woods to win the 2005 US Open to falling so far he was outside the world’s top 1,300 There are only so many polite variations on ‘Why bother carrying on’ aren’t there

Mr Nice Guy: Michael Campbell had a welcome return to form at Vilamoura

Well, at the age of 43, the man known far and wide as Cambo has come up with his own response, and what a gratifying one it is, too. At the Portugal Masters on Sunday, the Kiwi confirmed the small recovery steps he has been taking by finishing third for his first podium placing for four long years. Moreover, he put together four scores in the 60s for the first time since 2003.

This morning, he must feel almost as elated as he did on that unforgettable day seven years ago, when parliament back home in New Zealand suspended business so they could watch one of their own win America’s national title.

Quote of the week

‘For years I was known as the fella who won the Irish Open as an amateur. Now I have won this prestigious title, I don’t quite know what to say.’

Congratulations to Shane Lowry, winner of the Portugal Masters on Sunday. Let’s hope this victory, the first on tour by a player from the Republic of Ireland since the 25-year-old’s own success at Baltray three years ago, heralds the start of a revival for golfers from the southern branch.

Danny”s made to care as Quins fine England scrum-half over drunk arrest

Danny Care has been fined an undisclosed amount by Harlequins following his arrest for being drunk and disorderly.

The 24-year-old was arrested at 3am on Saturday after a “disturbance” at a bar in Weybridge, Surrey, following Harlequins” 21-10 Heineken Cup defeat by Toulouse. The England scrum-half was released without charge and he paid a fixed penalty fine.

Low moment: Danny Care in action against Toulouse at the Stoop

The Rugby Football Union have taken no disciplinary action but Care has accepted a fine from Harlequins for breaking the club”s code of conduct. It will be donated to the Teenage Cancer Trust unit at University College Hospital in London.

Harlequins director of rugby Conor O”Shea said: “We have a crucial Heineken Cup match at the weekend in Toulouse, so it was important we acted quickly.

Night out: Noir Bar in Weybridge

“We take it very seriously. However, from the club”s point of view a line will be drawn under the incident and we will get on with our preparation for the match. Danny has apologised to his team and understands fully what is expected of him.”

Care was reprimanded by England”s interim head coach Stuart Lancaster, who he has known since his days in the Leeds academy, but no formal action was taken by the RFU.

Bright hope: Care is in contention for an England return

“It was a silly thing to do – I accept that and apologise completely,” Care said. “We had just played a tough game and I was out with some of the team and friends but should have remembered that, as a professional player, I am on duty throughout the season and need to set a better example to the fans.

“I totally accept the police and club fines.”

A police statement said: “Surrey Police were called to the Noir Bar in Heath Road, Weybridge, at around 3am on the morning of Saturday December 10, following reports of a disturbance involving two groups of men.

“A man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly. He was taken into custody and later issued with a fixed penalty notice.”

England bad boys back in the spotlight as Care is arrested for being drunk and disorderly

England”s players appear to be failing to learn lessons from the World Cup after it emerged Danny Care has been arrested for being drunk and disorderly.

The Harlequins scrum-half was fined for his antics on a night out with team-mates after their Heineken Cup defeat to Toulouse on Friday.

Care, who played in the 21-10 loss at the Stoop, was arrested at 3am on Saturday.

Low moment: Danny Care in action against Toulouse at the Stoop

The 24-year-old was later released after spending two hours in police cells. He was ordered to pay a 80 fixed penalty notice.

Care was arrested by police in Surrey following reports of an unconnected disturbance. They were called to the Noir Bar in Weybridge.

A police spokesman said: “Officers attended the scene and ensured those present were dispersed. A man in his twenties was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly. He was arrested and later issued with a fixed penalty notice.”

Care has since apologised for his behaviour, which could leave him facing disciplinary action from his club.

He told the Daily Telegraph: “It was a silly thing to do — I accept that and apologise completely.

Bright hope: Care is in contention for an England return

“It was a tough game and I was out with the team and friends but should have remembered that as a professional player I am on duty throughout the season and need to set a better example to the fans.

“I totally accept the police fine and am glad that there is no further action on that front. I will, of course, co-operate fully with the Quins process. I will not make any further comment until that is all complete.”

Harlequins director of rugby Conor O’Shea said: “The club has not received any complaint but we take these matters very seriously and have a code of conduct that we expect every player to abide by.”

Care, who missed the World Cup after damaging his foot before the tournament, is likely to play a significant role in next year”s Six Nations.

However, this latest controversy is unlikely to go down well with England’s interim head coach Stuart Lancaster. He has already said he wants to wipe out the issues that blighted the World Cup campaign.